To smartphone or not to smartphone...

[Strangefox]

Also Behavioral - that REM sleep alarm sounds so cool. I am going to get it now!

I wonder how it works...

[fuzzylogician]

Thank you!

One thing I am trying to understand about WiFi in the US. If I get a smarphone with WiFi and use it only in places that have free WiFi like Starbucks - will I have to pay Verizon for the internet? I mean that data charge. Or do I pay this data charge only when I am in places where there is NO free WiFi?? In other words, is there a chance of having WiFi on your smartphone and not paying for internet if you are using it in the right places?

If you connect to a wifi network, you don't have to pay anything when you surf. That's what I do - I almost always use wifi and don't pay extra for internet.

If you want to connect to the internet when there is no available wifi, you have to pay an internet service provider like Verizon. If you have an unlimited plan, it doesn't matter how much you surf. If you have a prepaid plan then you pay according to how much data you downloaded and uploaded, so you pay more if you surfed longer or on heavier sites. Checking your email and when the next bus will come won't cost much.

[Strangefox]

If you connect to a wifi network, you don't have to pay anything when you surf. That's what I do - I almost always use wifi and don't pay extra for internet.

If you want to connect to the internet when there is no available wifi, you have to pay an internet service provider like Verizon. If you have an unlimited plan, it doesn't matter how much you surf. If you have a prepaid plan then you pay according to how much data you downloaded and uploaded, so you pay more if you surfed longer or on heavier sites. Checking your email and when the next bus will come won't cost much.

Now I get it! Thanks for the explanation!

[neuropsych76]

I just got a new phone, not a smartphone but the LG Octane which is a solid 3G phone. I also have an IPad. I liked Eigen's point about always having wi-fi so why would you need a smartphone. That's going to apply to me as well. And the times where I don't have wi-fi I think I'd rather relax instead of work

However, I was wondering if it would be worth it to just buy email on my phone. I'm sort of confused on which email I'd get but I'm guessing it would only be a few dollars to buy and then minimal data use so it would be pretty cheap. Like $5 a month. Is this a decent alternative to a smartphone? A few more dollars to always be able to check my emails in case of emergencies?

thanks!

[eklavya]

Hm, could you explain that?

jailbreak basically means you remove the OS from the phone which was installed by the manufacturer/carrier. however, this term mainly applies for iphone. in android arena, we call it 'ROM flashing' or simply 'flashing'. because the original OS that comes with the phone is loaded with lots of bloatware, you wipe out the factory installed stuff, and install yours. flashing your phone has lots of advantages... you should check out the xda forum if you ever buy/will buy a smartphone.

[eklavya]

I just got a new phone, not a smartphone but the LG Octane which is a solid 3G phone. I also have an IPad. I liked Eigen's point about always having wi-fi so why would you need a smartphone. That's going to apply to me as well. And the times where I don't have wi-fi I think I'd rather relax instead of work

However, I was wondering if it would be worth it to just buy email on my phone. I'm sort of confused on which email I'd get but I'm guessing it would only be a few dollars to buy and then minimal data use so it would be pretty cheap. Like $5 a month. Is this a decent alternative to a smartphone? A few more dollars to always be able to check my emails in case of emergencies?

your two paragraphs contradict each other

anyway, most smartphones these days have wifi on them. so if you aren't in an unlimited data plan and pay by the amount of data downloaded, you can use the wifi and not spend much on the internet and email stuff.

as for getting the email service only, it depends on the service provider. some have that package available for customers and some don't. if they do, my assumption is that it might cost you more than 5$ (my guess would be about 15-20$).

[StrangeLight]

Hm, could you explain that?

sure. i lived in an old house converted into 3 apartments. my apartment (the attic) wasn't wired for telephone or cable, which no one told me when i moved in. i couldn't get a landline, i couldn't get tv, and i couldn't get my own internet service. my downstairs neighbours had wifi, so they let me use their internet connection. but their internet was shitty (comcast/evil) and would constantly drop or stop working. if they were home to reset the modem and had noticed it wasn't working pretty quickly, then the connection would be up and running quickly enough. but they went out of town every weekend and so i'd lose my internet connection almost every weekend as well.

i downloaded a few programs for my iphone to jailbreak it. this is illegal and voids the warranty. then i downloaded a program that allowed me to turn my phone into a wifi connection. i could connect my computer to my phone's data and browse the internet. the connection was actually pretty fast (faster than it is on my phone, actually) but it drained the phone's battery, so i'd have to leave it plugged in while i used it that way. that lasted pretty much up until i moved (so about 2 years).

[Strangefox]

sure. i lived in an old house converted into 3 apartments. my apartment (the attic) wasn't wired for telephone or cable, which no one told me when i moved in. i couldn't get a landline, i couldn't get tv, and i couldn't get my own internet service. my downstairs neighbours had wifi, so they let me use their internet connection. but their internet was shitty (comcast/evil) and would constantly drop or stop working. if they were home to reset the modem and had noticed it wasn't working pretty quickly, then the connection would be up and running quickly enough. but they went out of town every weekend and so i'd lose my internet connection almost every weekend as well.

i downloaded a few programs for my iphone to jailbreak it. this is illegal and voids the warranty. then i downloaded a program that allowed me to turn my phone into a wifi connection. i could connect my computer to my phone's data and browse the internet. the connection was actually pretty fast (faster than it is on my phone, actually) but it drained the phone's battery, so i'd have to leave it plugged in while i used it that way. that lasted pretty much up until i moved (so about 2 years).

Interesting story, thanks!

[juilletmercredi]

Also, I'd not recommend Sprint at all. They lease their system out to other carriers, including Boost and Virgin Mobiles

These aren't different carriers. Both of those brands are part of Sprint; they're simply different brands Sprint uses to reach different demographics. I also don't see how that would be a bad thing - the number of subscribers on your network doesn't matter as long as your network can handle them. Everyone I know with Sprint is pretty satisfied with the service - far more satisfied than me and my other AT&T heads.

I don't see the point of passing up an iPhone for an iPod touch. You can get the iPhone 3GS for cheaper than the iPod touch (the 3GS is $99 with a 2-year contract now). If you get the lowest data plan, you pay $15 a month on top of your phone bill you'd already pay. It does come down to whether you want to pay the monthly data fee, but I don't think $15 a month is too much to have access to the Internet when you aren't on a wireless network. I don't always want to hunt down a Starbucks or something when I want to use Google maps or whatever.

I do think that if I were starting from scratch I wouldn't go for the iPhone - like Behavioral pointed out, I'd get something with a bigger screen, and probably on Android. Something from HTC perhaps - like the Droid Incredible 2 or the ThunderBolt. I've got bad eyesight and I get migraines so not having to strain as much to see the screen would be nice, and I hate iOS's text-messaging interface (everything is so tiny because they've got way too much stuff on the screen). I also hate the iPhone's on-screen keyboard. I also would NOT go with AT&T again. Their CS is bad and my phone drops SO many calls on a daily basis. I think I'm going to let my contract expire (I've got like a year left on it) and get an Android phone next time around.

But I would never go back from smartphones. Way too useful. Gotta chime that having e-mail, news and Twitter at my fingertips is amazing; I use Yelp to find essential services nearby me (a manicure place when I want a quick pampering session; a good restaurant when I want to eat something different). And the GPS/Google maps app is very useful, especially when I get lost in the Village (which is almost every time I go down there).

Strangefox, to answer your question, most carriers require you to pay for a plan with limited services - usually it's 250 MB for the low end ($15-20) and 2 GB for the higher end (~$30; Verizon has some higher level plans for heavy users). Even if you only surf from WiFi locations, you're likely still required to carry this data service plan. However, if you surf from WiFi locations, you don't use any of your data for the month. So while you technically don't have to pay for access from WiFi locations, you'll still probably have to get a data plan for your phone as all of the big carriers require a data plan for smartphones (because otherwise they wouldn't make their money - they know you'd just duck into a coffee shop if you wanted to use their WiFi).

[Strangefox]

Strangefox, to answer your question, most carriers require you to pay for a plan with limited services - usually it's 250 MB for the low end ($15-20) and 2 GB for the higher end (~$30; Verizon has some higher level plans for heavy users). Even if you only surf from WiFi locations, you're likely still required to carry this data service plan. However, if you surf from WiFi locations, you don't use any of your data for the month. So while you technically don't have to pay for access from WiFi locations, you'll still probably have to get a data plan for your phone as all of the big carriers require a data plan for smartphones (because otherwise they wouldn't make their money - they know you'd just duck into a coffee shop if you wanted to use their WiFi).

Oh, all this is so complicated!

I am starting to think that may be I don't need a smartphone after all. Of course it IS convenient but being able to check email wherever I am is not the most important thing for me. The most important thing is to spend money reasonably. So I agree with Eigen, - I can check email at home, have always done it this way and am pretty happy When one day I will become a rich tenured professor, I will get me an IPhone

Or may be even earlier, when someone will give it to me as a birthday present

[juilletmercredi]

Oh, all this is so complicated!

I am starting to think that may be I don't need a smartphone after all. Of course it IS convenient but being able to check email wherever I am is not the most important thing for me. The most important thing is to spend money reasonably. So I agree with Eigen, - I can check email at home, have always done it this way and am pretty happy When one day I will become a rich tenured professor, I will get me an IPhone

Or may be even earlier, when someone will give it to me as a birthday present

I think you have to go with what you need I'm a gadget lover and I like having that connectedness (but I am glad that my email doesn't get pushed to my hone constantly, because then I would never be able to disconnect!) But if you're not the kind of person who checks mail constantly, does the social network thing, etc., then it may just be useless to you. And if you want to save money - even $15 over 24 months is $360 total. That's a lot of cash, could go towards a better computer or a bill every month or something.

You could also get a semi-smartphone - lol. I had one before I upgraded to the iPhone. It was a Samsung; no app store or anything complicated, but I could check my email, it had a GPS system (not turn-based directions but just could tell me where I was and open a map), a camera, whatever. No requirement to have a data plan, although I did have one, but you can just use it on WiFi. These days with even smartphones being relatively cheap (you can get a good one for $150-$250 with a 2-year contract) you can probably snag a semi-smartphone with email on it for around $50-100.

If you've never had a smartphone before you likely don't *need* it. Also someone suggested an iPod touch, which if you don't want to be on the 3G network and pay the bill every month, could be a reasonable alternative. You could also get a small refurbished tablet - not the iPad (which starts at $500) but maybe the Galaxy Tab or Dell Streak, both of which are 7" and cost around $350 new (so if you got a refurbished one you might be able to snag it for $250 or something). You don't need to pay a monthly bill, and you can just use them on WiFi networks. As a grad student I'd say I am connected about 90% of the time. That other 10% is when I'm on the subway or the train to go visit my family, or walking around the city. Even a lot of restaurants out here have WiFi, and when they don't I just read a book (on my Kindle, lol!)

[Eigen]

I think you have to go with what you need I'm a gadget lover and I like having that connectedness (but I am glad that my email doesn't get pushed to my hone constantly, because then I would never be able to disconnect!) But if you're not the kind of person who checks mail constantly, does the social network thing, etc., then it may just be useless to you. And if you want to save money - even $15 over 24 months is $360 total. That's a lot of cash, could go towards a better computer or a bill every month or something.

You could also get a semi-smartphone - lol. I had one before I upgraded to the iPhone. It was a Samsung; no app store or anything complicated, but I could check my email, it had a GPS system (not turn-based directions but just could tell me where I was and open a map), a camera, whatever. No requirement to have a data plan, although I did have one, but you can just use it on WiFi. These days with even smartphones being relatively cheap (you can get a good one for $150-$250 with a 2-year contract) you can probably snag a semi-smartphone with email on it for around $50-100.

If you've never had a smartphone before you likely don't *need* it. Also someone suggested an iPod touch, which if you don't want to be on the 3G network and pay the bill every month, could be a reasonable alternative. You could also get a small refurbished tablet - not the iPad (which starts at $500) but maybe the Galaxy Tab or Dell Streak, both of which are 7" and cost around $350 new (so if you got a refurbished one you might be able to snag it for $250 or something). You don't need to pay a monthly bill, and you can just use them on WiFi networks. As a grad student I'd say I am connected about 90% of the time. That other 10% is when I'm on the subway or the train to go visit my family, or walking around the city. Even a lot of restaurants out here have WiFi, and when they don't I just read a book (on my Kindle, lol!)

I got my refurbed iPad for $350, and was quite happy with it. I still think an iPhone sized iPod touch might be a nice addition, just to have with me all the time on campus for e-mail, etc.

Note that when you're comparing monthly bills, you also have to add in a text messaging plan if you get an iPhone, at least through AT&T, which ends up being a ~$30 leap for messaging/data over the price of just a cell phone per month. I currently pay $45 per month, and I'd jump up to about $70 per month if I got an iPhone. The phone would be free, but you have to sign the 2 year contract which works out to be an additional $600 on top of the normal cell bill.

[rising_star]

I've had the same phone for 4.5 years. It is one of the first flip phones with a full keyboard inside. Sometimes I wish I had a smartphone to look up sports scores or double-check an address but, I don't wanna spend the extra money.

If I were to get one, I'd get a prepaid plan with Cricket, Boost, or Virgin Mobile. A LOT cheaper.

[Behavioral]

I wonder how it works...

I'll try to make it short:

Essentially while in REM sleep, your body goes into sleep paralysis. When you're in Alpha/Beta, your body isn't.

The way this app works is that you place your phone next to your pillow, and the accelarometers that are inside phones are sensitive to your body movements, which subsequently move your bed. Your phone keep track of this. You create a buffer duration from your alarm and that's the window where your phone can sound off the alarm (i.e., you set a time for an alarm, and the buffer creates a window from the alarm time and the #minutes/hours before the alarm; it doesn't create a window AFTER the alarm, because then you'll wake up late). The alarm goes off when you're in Alpha/Beta sleep if it falls within your timing window--otherwise, if the window is too small (i.e., you made the buffer only 10 minutes, but a REM cycle can be 45-90 minutes), then it'll wake you up closest to optimal.

Hope that makes sense? I made my buffer 2 hours (yes, that means even though I make my alarm 8am typically, sometimes it wakes me up closer to 6; though since I wake up at 8am almost everyday, my body's gotten used to waking up at the time after habitual practice), so I almost always wake up refreshed, even when I get less-than-optimal amount of sleep.

[Strangefox]

I'll try to make it short:

Essentially while in REM sleep, your body goes into sleep paralysis. When you're in Alpha/Beta, your body isn't.

The way this app works is that you place your phone next to your pillow, and the accelarometers that are inside phones are sensitive to your body movements, which subsequently move your bed. Your phone keep track of this. You create a buffer duration from your alarm and that's the window where your phone can sound off the alarm (i.e., you set a time for an alarm, and the buffer creates a window from the alarm time and the #minutes/hours before the alarm; it doesn't create a window AFTER the alarm, because then you'll wake up late). The alarm goes off when you're in Alpha/Beta sleep if it falls within your timing window--otherwise, if the window is too small (i.e., you made the buffer only 10 minutes, but a REM cycle can be 45-90 minutes), then it'll wake you up closest to optimal.

Hope that makes sense? I made my buffer 2 hours (yes, that means even though I make my alarm 8am typically, sometimes it wakes me up closer to 6; though since I wake up at 8am almost everyday, my body's gotten used to waking up at the time after habitual practice), so I almost always wake up refreshed, even when I get less-than-optimal amount of sleep.

Very interesting! Thank you!

[starmaker]

To me, the big advantage of a smartphone is that I don't have to write down directions or information contained in emails before I go someplace, since I have the Internet and a GPS in my pocket.

It is also useful for taking pictures of the research notes and ideas and suggestions from lab meetings that you scrawl all over your whiteboard. That way you can actually erase the whiteboard more than once every few months, and still have the notes. Or maybe I'm the only one for whom this is a significant benefit.

[Strangefox]

One more cell phone question. If I use an operator with sim cards, like AT&T, I can just get a sim card without buying a cell phone from them, right?

[hejduk]

One more cell phone question. If I use an operator with sim cards, like AT&T, I can just get a sim card without buying a cell phone from them, right?

I'm guessing that you are wanting to get a sim card from ATT, and just use a phone you already have or will purchase? If so, you have to make sure it's the right type of band. Typically, most phones aren't an issue nowadays, but not all phones will work everywhere. The typical GSM bands that ATT uses in the US are 850 and 1900 mhz.

If you're not sure if your phone supports those bands, you can look it up on www.phonescoop.com

Edited June 27, 2011 by hejduk

[Strangefox]

I'm guessing that you are wanting to get a sim card from ATT, and just use a phone you already have or will purchase? If so, you have to make sure it's the right type of band. Typically, most phones aren't an issue nowadays, but not all phones will work everywhere. The typical GSM bands that ATT uses in the US are 850 and 1900 mhz.

If you're not sure if your phone supports those bands, you can look it up on www.phonescoop.com

Thanks for the link! I know about different GSM standards and I am hoping that I will be able to use my phone, but I am not sure...

I found my phone on this website and the page says that it can have a European/Asian OR an American mode. I am afraid that mine is not in the American one... But we'll see.

Actually, it says this:

Modes: GSM 850/1800/1900 - Americas mode (Euro/Asia version has GSM 900 instead on 850)

So this probably means that Euro/Asia version is GSM 900/1800/1900. So there is 1900 that ATT uses. Does it mean that I will be able to use ATT sim card?

Edited June 27, 2011 by Strangefox

[hejduk]

Thanks for the link! I know about different GSM standards and I am hoping that I will be able to use my phone, but I am not sure...

I found my phone on this website and the page says that it can have a European/Asian OR an American mode. I am afraid that mine is not in the American one... But we'll see.

Actually, it says this:

Modes: GSM 850/1800/1900 - Americas mode (Euro/Asia version has GSM 900 instead on 850)

So this probably means that Euro/Asia version is GSM 900/1800/1900. So there is 1900 that ATT uses. Does it mean that I will be able to use ATT sim card?

Looking at those bands, it seems like there is no reason it shouldn't. Sometimes you can run into the dumb ATT rep who won't activate a phone not bought at ATT. Do realize they may require you sign a contact anyways! The contract's only reason is basically to get a discount on the phone - it doesn't typically mean any type of discount on service. If you go into an ATT store that won't activate the phone without a contract, just keep trying stores.

If you're in a more rural setting, you'll have a tougher time, as there'll be less stores obviously.

[Strangefox]

Looking at those bands, it seems like there is no reason it shouldn't. Sometimes you can run into the dumb ATT rep who won't activate a phone not bought at ATT. Do realize they may require you sign a contact anyways! The contract's only reason is basically to get a discount on the phone - it doesn't typically mean any type of discount on service. If you go into an ATT store that won't activate the phone without a contract, just keep trying stores.

If you're in a more rural setting, you'll have a tougher time, as there'll be less stores obviously.

I will be in a big city, so I will have no problem finding stores. Thanks for the great idea! I will try as many stores as necessary and find the right one!

[Xanthan]

I will be in a big city, so I will have no problem finding stores. Thanks for the great idea! I will try as many stores as necessary and find the right one!

Bear in mind that AT&T also does prepaid phones, which may actually be cheaper for you depending on how much you use it.

[Strangefox]

Bear in mind that AT&T also does prepaid phones, which may actually be cheaper for you depending on how much you use it.

You mean prepaid plans? That is what I was going to choose, actually. I would definetely prefer that over some sort of contract.

[MoJingly]

I'm starting grad school in a few days, but my current job offers really nice discounts at Verizon Wireless. Last week I got a blackberry, and it's been REALLY convenient. Yes, it's expensive, but for me, it's worth it.

(and fun...)

[Curlygrrl]

Do you recommend unlocking the phone first? Before approaching an ATT store for example.

Looking at those bands, it seems like there is no reason it shouldn't. Sometimes you can run into the dumb ATT rep who won't activate a phone not bought at ATT. Do realize they may require you sign a contact anyways! The contract's only reason is basically to get a discount on the phone - it doesn't typically mean any type of discount on service. If you go into an ATT store that won't activate the phone without a contract, just keep trying stores.

If you're in a more rural setting, you'll have a tougher time, as there'll be less stores obviously.